Browsing: Floyd Casey Stadium

Baylor Homecoming holds something special for everyone, and for student-athletes from Waco, this tradition may even be more special. After growing up with the annual celebration, the players gained a new perspective on what homecoming is, not only as a student, but also as an athlete.

In this piece, I begin my ranking of Baylor football’s biggest rivals among the Big 12 conference.

The opening of McLane Stadium will bring with it several changes to the game day experience meant to increase fan safety, according to a press release by Baylor Athletics.

The phrase “biggest game in Baylor history” has been used to describe many games this season, most notably at home against No. 10 Oklahoma and on the road against No. 10 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. But with Baylor’s Big 12 Championship clincher against No. 25 University of Texas in the final game at Floyd Casey Stadium on Saturday, we have a new titleholder.

While the game against the University of Texas at Austin marks the last football game at Floyd Casey Stadium, the ultimate fate of the facility remains undetermined.

“Simply put, we have no plans for it right now, whether we are going to tear it down or keep it.” said Brian Nicholson, associate vice president of facility, planning and construction. “Ultimately we aren’t going to keep it, we’re going to sell it. We just haven’t decided.”

Baylor football has put together one of the best seasons in school history in 2013. For only the third time ever, Baylor has reached double-digit wins, and that is with a game left to go. The Bears also tied a school record by being ranked third overall in the Associated Press poll for the first time since 1953.

With history behind them, No. 9 Baylor football (10-1, 7-1) will look to match up with No. 25 University of Texas (8-3, 7-1) in the final game at Floyd Casey Stadium. With a win, Baylor can clinch a share of the Big 12 Championship for the first time in school history.

We had some good times, some bad times and some times that felt like the aftereffects of a Gut Pak.

You were merciless, Floyd — beyond merciless. In my lifetime, you ate former Baylor coach Kevin Steele, skin and bone, as Baylor went 1-31 in the Big 12 conference during his tenure. You then, like the Sirens of ancient Greece, coaxed Guy Morriss, the deemed “savior” on his motorcycle, into your depths, only to devour his very soul and sabotage what had been an up-and-coming coaching career (If anyone can get a hold of Guy Morriss’ motorcycle, we should burn it in the final game).

On Sept. 30, 1950, Baylor University opened the $1.8 million “Baylor Stadium” with a 34-7 home win against the University of Houston under head coach George Sauer. On Saturday night, Baylor will look to close out the 63-year- old Floyd Casey Stadium against a historic rival, the No. 25 Texas Longhorns.

The stadium has been the home of Baylor football ever since the opener against Houston in 1950. In the time since President Harry Truman, the home of the Bears has gone through several updates, including the addition of a 23-by-31-foot LED video screen and skyboxes added in 2002.

With the last ticket sold for the Dec. 7 game against Texas, Floyd Casey Stadium has sold out for its last game as it ends its saga as home of the Bears.

For the final game at “The Case,” more than 3,500 additional general admission seats were opened up in the south end zone, an area usually left unused.

While there’s plenty to see around Baylor’s property, attractions await in the city that holds its campus. From local eats to stadium seats, the city of Waco is filled with enough Texan culture and history to please any visitor.

For Family Weekend, The Lariat has compiled a list of interesting things for visiting families to do and see around the city while enjoying the company of their Baylor Bear.

Baylor football unleashed all its weapons on Buffalo when the Bears stomped all over them en route to a 70-13 win. From Bryce Petty’s passing to Bryce Hager’s fumble return that I can only compare to a stampeding mammoth, we hit them with everything we had. One weapon that didn’t get as much press was a little gift from Waco: murderous heat.

As the afternoon sun beats down on Floyd Casey Stadium and the surrounding area, students, alumni and others make the pilgrimage to the 63-year-old home of Baylor football.

Parents buy their children snow cones that needed to be flavored. As soon as the parent hands their child the snow cone, the kid races to the yellow cart next to the vendor to add any flavor (or in most cases flavors) to their cool treat. Coconut, cherry, strawberry and a concoction called “tiger’s blood” all stain the pure ice as they flow into the cup.

Water is more welcome than ever this coming weekend as the Bears turn up the heat at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Any water bottle, disposable or reusable, will be allowed at the game against Buffalo this weekend.

As reported by the Lariat on Wednesday, many students were confused by the water bottle policy at last week’s game against Wofford. Attendants were to allow two water bottles per person but were not sure about the type of bottles to permit.

Dozens of water bottles were left trashed outside Floyd-Casey Stadium on Saturday despite a new policy allowing outside water bottles into the stadium.

“I had water, but I threw it away,” Coppell freshman Victoria Clark said. “I didn’t know we were allowed to bring it inside.”

Some students, such as Lubbock senior Hayden Murphy, witnessed game attendees not being allowed to take in their own hard plastic water bottles. Murphy said he took two bottles in, but they were disposable.

Temperatures reached 100 degrees Saturday during Baylor’s first home football game.

The stadium was filled with Baylor fans, despite the heat, and they weren’t disappointed as Baylor beat Wofford College 69-3. The day was reminiscent of last year’s first football home game in more than one way.

Something many attendees will recall from last year’s game is the water bottle policy. Bottles of water were not allowed into the stadium. Sixty-five people were treated for heat-related problems that day.

The first experiences a student has at Baylor are some of the most memorable. The Traditions Rally and Late Night are annual events that start the semester off strong, but unlike previous years, a sentimental factor accompanies this year’s events.

On Thursday, the rally will be held at Floyd Casey Stadium for the last time. Come fall 2014, the Traditions Rally will take place at the new football stadium.

Baylor Student Activities plans the Traditions Rally and Late Night to introduce new students to Baylor’s unique culture.

On Saturday, the Bears will take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats, but it’s been a week since Baylor defeated SMU by a score of 59-24 in their rocky season opener.

“We didn’t feel like we were completely clean against SMU and we worked on correcting things,” said head coach Art Briles.

Baylor Nation may miss Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III, but not much as the Bears defeated the SMU Mustangs 59-24.

All things Baylor will pass.

To think otherwise would be foolishness, it has happened before and it will happen again.

For example, there used to be a very large pool where our very large practice field is now. Brooks College and Flats — the insular havens for “potterphiles” and married couples ­— is a completely new creation. It used to be a men’s dormitory called Brooks Hall. The face of Baylor has fundamentally changed over the years, and will continue to change in the future.

Construction is under way on the new Baylor Stadium after a $35 million contribution from the Waco City Council passed unanimously.
The first vote took place July 17. Both votes unanimously supported contributing the TIF funds which includes the public contribution.
The Waco City Council voted Aug. 7 during a public hearing to provide the Tax Increment Financing Zone funds to the stadium project, which was the second of two required votes.

Two Gator Utility Vehicles believed to have been stolen last week from a shed at Floyd Casey Stadium were found Wednesday.

Some people are calling it “the Golden Age of Baylor Athletics,” as 12 teams are ranked in the top 25 and the Baylor brand is being seen on a national level.

“RG3” was chanted repeatedly at almost every Baylor football game as quarterback Robert Griffin III led the Bears to 17 victories in two seasons. When the possibility of Griffin leaving for the NFL developed, the “one more year” chant usually followed the “RG3” chant.

Ten moments that helped shape Robert Griffin III’s career, plus images to remember from Baylor’s historic 2011 season.

The 2011 Bears have produced a lot of firsts for Baylor and look to make a few more against Texas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium.

What Baylor YouTube clip has more than 50,000 views and showcases a Big 12 rival at its finest moment?

Last week Baylor alumnus Garrett Golding wrote to the Lariat, voicing disappointment in the student body’s lack of attendance at home football games.

After their tough 36-35 loss to Kansas State, the No. 25 Bears return home to play Iowa State at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Lightning stopped the game but not the Bears, as they defeated Stephen F. Austin 48-0 after three quarters.

Over two weeks after Baylor’s epic 50-48 victory over TCU, the Bears finally return to the football field to face Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. Saturday in Floyd Casey Stadium.